No Call Waiting

The movie theater is an ideal place to find distinctive personalities. Over the past 75 years we’ve come to know—at least through film—movie actors and actresses such as James Cagney, Grace Kelly, Clark Gable, John Wayne, Jack Nicholson, and a host of other favorites. We know and admire these people for their convincing portrayal of various characters. All of these people are famous for their noteworthy acting ability, and they have Oscars to prove it.

But there are other actors who are famous simply for their commanding voice, for their ability to speak with such a convincing tone that no one dare deny their authority. Such voices as Sean Connery and James Earl Jones bring to mind (and ear) such a commanding tone that anyone would heed their direction.

Now, you and I can only imagine such a scenario as being on the receiving end of a Connery or Jones. But we all can relate to the “E. F. Huttons” in our lives. You know, people who, when they talk, we listen. Maybe it’s the voice of your father or mother. When my mom or dad called out “Gregory Dean Stenzel,” I came running and I listened. You can probably relate to such an experience with your parents, or an authoritative teacher or principal.

Well, in today’s Gospel reading, Jesus’ voice “breaks through” the walls that can separate speaker from hearer. For when Jesus enters the scene, there’s always a reaction—an immediate reaction—to his coming. We’re going to see that

The Coming of God’s Kingdom Yields Immediate Results.

I.

There are two separate occasions in which Jesus “presents himself” in today’s Gospel reading. The first is introduced as Jesus begins his Galilean ministry. John the Baptist, the last of the great prophets, has now completed his ministry—and the time is now right for Jesus to “bring on” the “kingdom of God” (vv 14–15). The One who was proclaimed—by John and all the prophets before him—has now become the proclaimer.

But what’s so different, so important, about “now”? What, and where, is this “kingdom of God”? All we can see is this lone new guy in town named Jesus, who says repent and believe in the Gospel. And all because a “kingdom” is now at hand?

We don’t think much of “kingdoms” these days. But to the ears of first-century Palestine, “kingdoms” would’ve gotten your attention. Their minds probably focused on the oppressive, mighty rule of Rome—which they knew and experienced all too well. They may have thought about all the Old Testament references to the “Sovereign Lord”—envisioning a master who sat high on a throne—personally ruling over his subjects. In either case, their minds would have been on a kingdom of power, a kingdom of might, not a kingdom like the one Jesus was bringing.

So what was this new kind of kingdom Jesus was bringing? Well, in the case of these Galileans, Jesus was the kingdom—all wrapped up in one humble package. As for his timing, Gal 4:4 sums it up: “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son.” John the Baptist had stood at the end of a long line of “preparers,” but now the preparation was over; the kingdom of God was literally “at hand,” staring them right in the face, preaching to them. And the King wasted no time—and no breath—in giving it to them straight: “repent and believe in the good news.” Law and Gospel, short and straight. That’s the kingdom of God—the delivery of the full counsel of God—Law and Gospel—bearing on the hearts of all people. There’s no offer to “think it over,” no grace period given for consideration. Jesus simply says, “The time has come.” Whatever the sin, the time to put it away is now. For example, how does our life stack up against the 10 Commandments? Are we not guilty of breaking them all? For example,

Every time we elevate other things as more important than the One true God, we end up breaking the 1st Commandment. In other words, do we fear, love, and trust God above all things? Or, are we guilty of holding on to the promises of people, governments, vaccines?

The Psalmist declares in Psalm 20, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”

What about the 2nd Commandment? Though we have been brought into the family of God by faith and baptism, thereby receiving our Lord’s holy name upon us and included into His family, some routinely take this holy name in vain — breaking the 2nd Commandment — by their life: patterning their life after what the world values, or making decisions by what we can see, feel, touch instead of by faith.

What about the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching, His Word and Sacraments, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and receive it. Despising and neglecting God’s holy Word and holy Sacraments has become a big problem in our modern era. Many “Christians” view God’s holy Word and holy Sacrament as optional or unnecessary.

This briefly sums up the First Table of the Law — our relationship with God — and if we looked at the Second Table of the Law — our relationship with others — we would, no doubt, find many examples where we have fallen short.

Jesus declares, “Repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

To repent, according to our statement of faith in the Lutheran Confessions,

Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions Article XII: Repentance

Now, strictly speaking, repentance consists of two parts. 4 One part is contrition, that is, terrors striking the conscience through the knowledge of sin. 5 The other part is faith, which is born of the Gospel [Romans 10:17] or the Absolution and believes that for Christ’s sake, sins are forgiven. It comforts the conscience and delivers it from terror. 6 Then good works are bound to follow, which are the fruit of repentance [Galatians 5:22–23].

Does your sin strike your conscience with terror over what you have done or how your have fallen short? This is the first part of true repentance. The second part is sweet and beautiful, because it is faith that believes sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake.

But can true repentance come about when our conscience IS NOT filled with terror over how far we have fallen? For some, their consciences have become seared, or numb, by the ease at which sin repeatedly comes without giving it a thought.

Hear Jesus now! “The Kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the gospel.”

Jesus gave the kingdom, the kingdom of his forgiveness—and it was your for the blessing or your for the rejecting. Either way, it is staring you in the face and you have it all—in a few short words. You can either receive it or reject it!

For example, in a few short words, “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Such meager water—and pitifully few words. There’s not much to look at or listen to. But such “stuff,” dear Christian, is the very means of your salvation. Believe it. Now. Immediately.

II.

Yes, when Jesus calls there’s a great sense of urgency—as both Jesus himself speaks and as Mark narrates (vv 16–20).

There’s always a response when Jesus calls. His presence—whether in flesh in the first century, or by His inspired Word in the twenty-first century—forces the issue. We may try to straddle the fence, but the edge is simply too narrow. Every encounter with Jesus is a “force” to be reckoned with. His Law crushes us—forcing us to admit we’re sinners. His Gospel lifts us—freeing us to rejoice that we’re forgiven sinners.

But Jesus wasn’t going to evangelize the world single-handedly.

So, without any delay, Jesus sees people and calls them to follow. He is not interested in qualified candidates, because none of us would measure up. Jesus doesn’t even seek; he simply sees. And what Jesus sees, Jesus gets. “Hey, you, over there, follow me. I’m going to teach you how to fish for men.” No qualifications sought. No response time given. “At once they left their nets and followed him” (v 18).

Notice, too, that Jesus’ calls to discipleship came on their own turf. They were just doing their day’s work, catching fish and mending nets. It was true of the prophets of old as well. “I’m no prophet,” said Amos. “I’m not even a prophet’s son, but a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees.” Nonetheless, Amos relates in ch 7 of his book, “The Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel’ ” (v 15 ESV).

Your “ordinary” call to your daily tasks comes with the call to proclaim the Savior. Right now, right here, wherever Monday office or Tuesday lunch or Thursday errands find you. You all engage with people on some level — telephone calls, grocery store line, visiting with a discouraged friend, etc. Last week we hear the best example of proclaiming the Savior; do you remember it? Philip comes to Nathaniel and says, “We have found the Messiah, the one Moses in the Law and the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth.” Nathaniel gave his objection, and Philip answered it beautifully by saying, “Come and see!” And he did and Jesus did the rest.

The call of the King invades lives wherever the King is present—right now, immediately—with his gifts. And His kingdom is present in his appointed means of grace—in his holy Word and in his holy Sacraments.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.